DA: Time has come to end all lockdown restrictions

The official opposition wants an end to the curfew, all sectors of the economy to be reopened and the country’s borders to open for international travel.

This comes as President Ramaphosa chairs a virtual meeting of the President’s Coordinating Council on Tuesday ahead of the country’s expected move to level 1.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has already confirmed that government is reconsidering the lifting of a number of restrictions, including the curfew and the limits on the sale of booze and religious gatherings.

DA interim leader John Steenhuisen says lockdown has devastated the economy.

“It has increased risk for millions of households, and aggravated inequality, including educational inequality. South Africa now faces the prospect of deep and prolonged depression as our debt spirals out of control.”

Steenhuisen believes the risk of a second wave of infections is relatively low due to the country’s high recovery rate.

"We need to get back to work, to school, and to our lives and we need to do it safely. But we need to do more than that. We also need to agree as a society to back the economic reforms that can get our economy growing again, and that can roll back poverty, unemployment and inequality.”

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